Doubting Thomas

Traditionally when a Catholic gets confirmed they choose a Saint's name.  When I was confirmed that really wasn't done, but I chose a Saint anyway.  My Saint was Thomas the Apostle.  More commonly known as Doubting Thomas. 

I wish we knew more about the original members of the Church.  That includes Thomas.  We do have one story about Thomas that we pull directly from the Gospels.

Following the resurrection Jesus appeared to the Apostles.  But Thomas wasn't there.  When the others told Thomas about seeing Jesus, Thomas had his doubts.  He said ne needed to see the nail marks and feel the marks and the wound in Jesus's side or he would not believe.

When Jesus returned later, this time in Thomas's presence.  Jesus offed to allow Thomas to feel his wounds, and immediately Thomas believed.  Jesus said:

"Have you come to believe because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed"  -John 20

So is it OK to have doubts?  In today's society we are filled with reasons to have doubts.  We have scientists explaining to us why things happen without God.  We have the secular media telling us religion is not necessary in the today's world.  We even have friends and family who are separated from their faith.

It's easy to have doubts.  But I think that's ok.  Jesus realized that its is hard to believe things that are unseen sometimes.  Jesus knows what's in our hearts, so we can take solace in the fact that he can see deep down that we believe.  But its important that we show on the outside by our actions that we believe as well.  We need to pray, go to Church and follow the Commandants.

We all have a little Doubting Thomas in us-but we are also blessed because we believe even if we haven't seen.